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POMONA, Calif. – The 11th-ranked UC San Diego water polo team finished 3-1 at the Claremont Convergence after splitting action Saturday at Haldeman Pool. Facing No. 13 Hawaii for the second time in 2014, the Tritons fell victim to a slow start to lose 9-6 in game one. UCSD closed out the weekend with an 11-6 win over Pomona-Pitzer in the nightcap.

Game OneThe Tritons fell behind early in game one against Hawaii and wasn’t able to climb back to fall 9-6.

Hawaii opened the game with three consecutive scores in the opening quarter before Wieseler finally got the Tritons on the scoreboard. The Rainbow Wahine found the back of the cage one more time before the period ended to lead 4-1 after one.

Each team tallied a goal in the second and third periods, respectively, as Hawaii took a 6-3 advantage into the final period. Wieseler and Lizotte scored a goal each for UCSD.

Hawaii opened the fourth with two consecutive goals to take a commanding lead, 8-3, with 5:28 remaining. The Tritons managed three goals in the final 4:00 minutes of action, but it proved to be too little too late as Hawaii earned the 9-6 win.

UCSD was led offensively by Wieseler, who scored four times in the loss. Lizotte rounded out the scoring with a pair of goals, while Julia Kirkland dished out the lone UCSD assist.

Miller finished with 13 saves for the Tritons.

Game TwoUCSD used a strong second quarter to sink the Sagehens, 11-6, in the nightcap.

The Tritons led 3-1 after the first period, which was highlighted by a score from Lizotte as the period ended. After earning a man-up advantage with :12 seconds remaining in the quarter, Lizotte riffled home a goal into the back of the cage.

UCSD took control of the match in the following period with four scores, with two coming from Wieseler and one from Lauren Finwall and Kirkland each. The Tritons held a 7-3 advantage at the intermission.

The Tritons managed to finish out the victory with four second half goals, two in each period. The Sagehens cut the Triton lead to three at 9-6 with 5:33 remaining, but UCSD responded with a goal from Kirkland on a man-up advantage to put any thought of a comeback to rest. Kirkland and Leah Gonzales finished out the win with consecutive scores to make the final 11-6.

Wieseler, Lizotte, Finwall and Kirkland led the charge offensively with two goals each. Gonzales, Jolene Guiliana and Lauren Boyer rounded out the scoring with a tally apiece. Guiliana added a pair of assists to her line, while Lauel Kistler also amassed a pair of dimes. Wieseler and Lizotte also finished with an assist each.

Miller blocked seven Sagehen shots in the win.

The Tritons stay on the road next weekend and travel down the freeway to San Diego State to participate in the Aztec Invite. UCSD faces Princeton (8 a.m.) and Bucknell (1 p.m.) on Saturday, Mar. 15 before closing out the tournament against Harvard (9:15 a.m.) and Wagner (1 p.m.) on Sunday, Mar. 16.